GeorgeTaliaferro

George Taliaferro was the first African-American player to be drafted by an NFL team. The Chicago Bears drafted the All-American halfback out of Indiana University in 1949. Though he was fan of the Bears, he had already signed with the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference. After the league folded in 1950, he joined the New York Yanks of the NFL. He also played with Dallas, Philadelphia, and Baltimore.

He played seven positions including halfback, quarterback, receiver, punter, kick returner, punt returner, and defensive back. He was the first African-American to lead the Big Ten in rushing and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981.

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